Xterra FS 2.5 Elliptical Trainer

7.2Total Score

Overview

Xterra FS 2.5 come with a heavy 22 lbs flywheel, 14 inch stride and 24 programs. Built quality of this trainer is great (compare to other on the same price range). We specially like the black compact look of this trainer. If you decide to spend $300 on an elliptical, this should be the one!

Display

This trainer comes with a Large 5-Inch x 2.5-Inch LCD display. It shows, current program, current resistance levels, time worked out, speed, distance travelled, calorie burned, target heart rate and current heart rate. To tell the truth, this display shows more information than any other budget ellipticals. This display is backlit, dual color. You will have no problem working out in dark. We absolutely love this display!

Heart Rate Monitor

If you have read any of our previous reviews you may know; we simply hate touch pad for heart rate monitor. Because most of the time it shows wrong reading. When working out, user need to touch the stationary handle; which we don’t like to do.

We have found this heart rate monitor is some time 100% accurate; but something shows 10 point discrepancy with a polar wireless heart rate monitor. If you want to do cardio with perfect HR Zone control; you will be disappointed.

Build Quality

The FS 2.5 is in our top 10 list because of its Build Quality. We have tested it for 2 weeks in various resistance and with various intensity. This trainer can take a beating! After 2 weeks of torture, it’s still working like new. Most of the budget elliptical starts to make crackling noise at this point. But we must say, you will hear some noise (which is very low compare to other budget trainers). All of the budget trainers are subject to some level of flaws; especially in this noise.

One of the best features of this trainer is the leveller in the bottom. This is the feature that should be a universal to all elliptical.

If your trainer starts making any noise, please call Xterra support, they are very good at taking care of complains.

Assembly

It put this trainer together you will need 2-3 hours. If you have ever assembled an IKEA; you can assemble it too. To assemble this unit all you will need a box cutter; everything else will be included with the box; but the tools come with it are not very high quality (it’s a onetime tool for a budget machine). If you can arrange 19mm end wrench or socket, 5mm allen-wrench & a #2 phillips screwdriver; your assembly will go very smoothly. Package itself is large (but not huge).You will not need to work on main flywheel; you will only need to attach handles, foot boards and console.

Few note for Assembly

Use silicone spray for better lubrication (You can skip it if you want)

Pay attention to “R” and “L”; as left and right parts look same

Assemble the trainer where you will finally use it.

If you have any problem with the assembly, just pick up the phone and call Xterra support. They provide the best support for any budget elliptical.

Please Note: In amazon, you can select flywheel weight for this elliptical. List price for 17.4 lbs unit is $349; and list price for the 22 lbs unit is $399. It might look that every thing is same of the trainer other than flywheel weight; but actually these are 2 diifferent models. One with 17.4 lbs flywheel is FS1.5 (click here for more detail) and the one with 22 lbs is FS 2.5. Though both machine looks same, FS 1.5 has gray (one color) LCD display; where FS 2.5 has dual color backlit LCD display. Resistance is also higher for FS 2.5 (24 compared to just 16 in FS1.5). If you can get the FS1.5 for under $250; we would say go for it! But Do not spend over $300 for the FS1.5; it is not worth it

I purchased this elliptical machine end of Jan 2014 and received it Feb 6. After assembling the unit I used for less than 2 weeks when the belt slipped. I contacted the warranty department for assistance on repair. It sometime before the young man could walk me through the process of “trying” to repair it. He informed me that the tensioner and belt required replacement and that he needed my receipt. I immediately emailed him my receipt, I travel for work so I left on a business trip. I called my husband during the trip to find out if the belt and tensioner came and they had not.

Once I returned home from my trip I called the warranty department and spoke with a new rep. The rep informed me that they never received my reciept. I did not recieve a phone call from anyone at Xterra to say hey can you resend the email. I took the young mans name and I sent the original email to both of the reps I spoke too. I called to confirmed the reciept of the email. When I called back I spoke to my original rep and his question was What exactly do you need? Really Really. I stated “you told me the tenisoner and belt need to be replaced”. Oh ok ma’am I will get that out to you. I return home from a Business trip and excited because I find the box from Xterra on my porch. Low and behold I only have the tensioner not the belt. I just sent an email to both Michael and Lloyd in the warranty department stating I replaced the tensioner and I have the same results a lot of play in the belt. I sent pictures etc. I plan to call them on Monday. I just wanted to post on here and other sites that this is not a good purchase. There is no reason that product purchased less than two months cannot be used.

I spent $349 and I feel it was a waste. I know I will invest more next time. I posted here because this is one of the websites I used to make my decision.

I just assembled my FS2.5 and my belt slipped off after 10 minutes! There was a clunk sound as well. I got the belt on but there’s no tension/resistance when the machine is on. I put a call in to Exterra. Waiting to here back. What a pain in the ass. You’d think that it’d work for longer then that before having an issue. I like the size, it was great for the few minutes it worked. We’ll see what happens.

We are sorry to hear this. Belt is covered by their warranty. You need to register your unit (if you haven’t done it already). If you need any help with warranty registration please let us know info@ellipticalhub.com

After few months of use, the belt came off all of a sudden and stopped working, called customer support for help, they shipped new belt and wheel. I tried assembling it which is a painful process, after putting the belt on the wheel, there is no tension while walking on it. The 1yr warranty doesn’t cover technician visit, wasted my money.

I Just bought this same elliptical and me and my wife finished the assembly just to try it and less than 20 seconds into using it the belt came off. Day 3 now still trying to fix the belt with the help of the Xterra customer service and still no fix. Funny thing is we have burnt more calories trying to fix this machine than actually using.

I was thought all i had to do was just assembly the handle and foot pad, not try and rebuild a whole new machine for the money that I paid. This machine is not worth the trouble and I am regretting it.

This took about 45 minutes to assemble. I’m a 39 year old woman and had no problems assembling this alone. There are about 15 bolts total and the thing is pretty much together, a few more screws and you are done. It is heavy, so assemble where you will use it. The belt slipped off 9 days after I received it. I am in the process of returning this to QVC as it is too much of a hassle to replace after owning for less than 2 weeks. When it worked it was great.